Abdi’s story

At home in Somalia, I was one of the lucky ones. My family could afford to send me to school, and I had a talent for mathematics. I had extra tuition for accounting. I spent my days studying, helping with the family business and playing football with my friends on the streets. Those were good times. 

Armed groups were targeting young people, taking them from their families and forcing them to join military activities. I watched friends disappear and how their lives changed. That was never an option for me. At 17, my uncle helped me to avoid this and escape the country before it was too late. In Mogadishu, I boarded a plane to Istanbul, Türkiye. It was my first time leaving Somalia, my first time on an aeroplane and my first step into an uncertain world. After that came a long journey crossing several borders, sometimes under the cover of darkness. It was horrible not knowing when I would finally reach safety. 

New challenges    

I’m glad that my journey finished here in Austria. It’s a safe country and it has become my second home. But first, it was hard. Back home, I had everything I wanted. Here, it was a completely different culture. I struggled with small things like food. I arrived with no family, no friends and nobody to look out for me. I didn’t even know how to cook, so I was just eating bread. Even having a cup of tea was difficult for me.  

Learning the language wasn’t easy. That was my number one goal. I wanted to live here, learn the language as soon as possible, and go to university to continue my studies. I walked from school to school, asking for a place on a German course, saving every euro I could from my small allowance to pay for classes.  I have been to school in Somalia, but the education levels in Austria are not the same. I knew education was my way forward, so I stuck with it.  

Eventually, I was accepted into university to study business administration. Numbers and economics have always appealed to me. The chance to work in Vienna meant the world to me. I could pay for clothing, for going out or even for learning special skills I needed. I could support my family as well if they needed it. The Skills for Employment programme with IKEA was another level again. It felt like the good life. Around half of the population of Vienna have an immigrant background. So, if they get the support and opportunity to work, they will be paying taxes and supporting the health system.  

Yes, we fled from our countries, but we all bring our skills and our motivation with us. In many ways, we are even more motivated than others. If an Austrian studied five hours, I had to work 10 hours to pass the same exam. I’m thankful and happy to be paying back to the system. If everybody gets opportunities, then the sky’s the limit. We can grow fast as individuals and as a community as well. Instead of thinking about a person’s background, their name, or how they look, just think about what this person brings to you to your company. Give them an opportunity and you will both succeed.  

Children light the future    

I wanted to have kids only once I became an Austrian to avoid them having to go through all the things I did. My boys are doing fantastically well in kindergarten. We live in one of the most beautiful, greenest districts in Vienna. For holidays, we travel together by car and we move from one city to another. It’s amazing to do this without thinking about restrictions on moving from A to B. I want them to understand how privileged they are compared to millions of other kids not able to because of where they were born or who their parents are. They have to understand that and be proud.  

I got my citizenship in 2019, before that I couldn’t even think about visiting my uncle in the United States of America. After that, I just booked the ticket and visa. The next day I had everything. 

It’s very nice to have this, but what has changed? I’m the same person from one day to another apart from this travel document.